Motion-picture projector cabinet



Sept. 15, 1953 L. L. THOMAS MOTION-PICTURE PROJECTOR CABINET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22, 1950 PIELEL 422 Q PIEAL INVENTOR. [Ema/"0 L. Thomas Q 7% w flTTORNE v5 L. L. THOMAS MOTION-PICTURE PROJECTOR CABiNET Sept. 15, 1953 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed May 22 1950 m w m a 0 0 0 1 1 m m y a m M Inn $31K leer/are L Thomas Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,651,967 MOTION -PICTURE PROJECTOR CABINET Leonard L. Thomas, Sacramento, Calif.

Application May .22, 1950, Serial No. 163,377 2 Claims. (01. 88-24) This invention relates to cabinets for motion picture projectors and particularly to that type of cabinet which is adapted to form a case for the projector and to provide a screen upon which the motion picture may be projected.

'As is known to those skilled in the art, most motion pictures are projected from a projector to a screen upon which the pictures are viewed. The size of the picture depends in most cases upon two factors; the lens through which the picture is projected and the distance of the lens from the screen.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cabinet within which a motion picture projector may be mounted, together with all of its component parts, and as a component of which a viewing screen may be provided.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device of this character which is of relatively small dimension and in which the distance between the lens and the screen may be reduced to a minimum.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a cabinet employing my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the cabinet shown in Figure l; V

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the cabinet;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure l, with the cabinet in closed position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view as illustrated in Figure 4 with the cabinet in open position; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line 66 of Figure 4.

As illustrated in Figures, 1, 2, 3 and 4 my cabinet consists of a closed box composed of a stationary bottom wall [0, end walls H and I 2, and side walls I3 and I4. The top 16 is hingedly secured at one end to end wall [2 by a pair of hinges IT.

A motion picture projector 2| is secured to.

the bottom wall Ill in any suitable manner as, for example, by bolts 22 and is spaced from the end wall H substantially as shown in Figure 4. The purpose of this spacing will be more fully hereinafter explained. The projector 2| is substantially conventional and may be of any suitable make provided, however, that it is sufliciently small to fit within the cabinet provided. As illus- 2 trated. it is provided with a tilting adjustment 23 whereby it may be tilted, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The picture is projected from the lens 24 toward the end wall l2.

End wall H is provided with a circular orifice 26 which is provided with a suitable guard screen 21 through which air may be introduced or drawn into the cabinet for cooling purposes as, it will be recalled, considerable heat is generated by the lamp within the machine 2|. An outlet manifold 28 is provided to draw off the warm air from the machine 2|. The manifold 28 exhausts the warm air through a port 29 in the end wall l2.

The means for controlling the operation of the projector 2| are substantially conventional and will not'furth'er hereinafter be described. It will be sufficient to say that the machine may be started, stopped or reversed at will as, for example, by operation of the switch 3| and the various control devices 32.

On the inner side of the end wall l2, there is provided a parabolic reflector 33 which is secured to the end wall l2 by a bracket 34. The parabolic reflector 33 is spaced apart from and set at an angle with respect to the end wall l2 for a purpose more fully hereinafter to be described.

As is particularly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, top wall [6 of the cabinet is hingedly secured by means of hinges I! to the end wall I 2. As shown in Figure 4, the top wall I6 is in closed position. It is usually retained in this position by the snap latches 35. However, upon release of the latches 35, the top [6 may be swung upwardly as indicated in Figure 5.

A viewing screen 36 is hingedly secured to the lower side of the top It by means of a spring hinge connection 31 and may be made of any suitable screen material upon which a picture may be shown. The picture is projected onto the inner surface of the screen 36 but is viewed upon the outer surface of the screen 36.

Also secured to the lower side of the top 16, there is a pair of arcuately shaped inner wall members 38 which lie adjacent to the interior of the side walls 13 and M. The walls 38 are of suflicient depth that when he top I6 is swung upwardly, as viewed in Figure 5, the lower edges I of the walls 38 still project downwardly into the the interior of the wall ll.

cabinet, forming in effect upward extensions of the side walls [3 and I4, thereby preventing light from entering the cabinet.

The lower edge of the frame 39 surrounding the screen 36 is adapted to engage a ledge 4| on When the top is in 

